Assessment of Local People Opinion After World Heritage Site Designation, Case Study: Historic City of Yazd, Iran

A majority of local residents in Yazd, Iran, expressed dissatisfaction with the city's inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List, with over 80% reporting no change in their quality of life post-designation. The study, based on interviews with 400 individuals, revealed a lack of awareness and misunderstanding about the roles of national and international organizations in heritage management. This challenges the assumption that local communities are inherently supportive of World Heritage Site (WHS) designation. The research highlights the need for better communication and engagement to align WHS conservation efforts with local expectations.

Nasrolahi, A., Roux, J.-M., Ghasvarian Jahromi, L., & Khalili, M. (2019). Assessment of Local People Opinion After World Heritage Site Designation, Case Study: Historic City of Yazd, Iran. Heritage, 2(2), 1739–1747. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2020106